Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Superfan Daily: New Zealand Update

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit Christchurch yesterday, causing severe damage and significant loss of life. The city was struck by a 7.1 earthquake last year, but the depth and location of this one made it more devastating. Prime Minister John Key said "We may be witnessing New Zealand's darkest day".

"Gutted" is how many Kiwis are describing their empathy for those affected, and it is a descriptive word. For more, go to BBC News.

While this is truly horrible news, it is news to the track and field world because only four days later Christchurch was set to host the International Track Meet, New Zealand's premier invitational.

The meet is not going forward. QEII Park, the stadium hosting the meet, has suffered severe damage, and the entire city is under a five-day state of emergency. There is no official word yet, but it is not possible to hold the meet.

Of more immediate concern is the safety of athletes in New Zealand. TrackFocus reports that Alberto Salazar, Galen Rupp and Steve Magness are all safe in Australia. Japan Running News reports that the nine Japanese runners and their staff at a Christchurch-based training camp are all safe (after a few terrifying moments). Let's Run's message board reports that Alan Webb, Nick Willis, Lee Emmanuel, and Will Leer were all in Wellington and are safe, which appears to be confirmed by Willis' post at NZRun.com.

Willis is looking at putting together a fund-raiser mile race in Newtown, a southern suburb of Wellington:

There are a bunch of us ready to run an exhibition mile (and an 800m for some) at Newtown on Saturday once given the official word. Hayden Shearman is going to help organise a fundraising platform, and we can make this a good opportunity to help in what little way we are able to the CHCH cause.

if interested in running a fast 800m or mile, please facebook me, and I will help put the potential fields together.